Hydraulic properties of soils as influenced by texture, organic matter and soluble salts
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Date
2017
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Publisher
CCSHAU
Abstract
Hydraulic properties of soils plays a significant role in adoption of appropriate water management
practices capable of enhancing input use efficiency of soils of arid and semi arid regions. Keeping in view the
importance of the hydraulic properties, study was carried out by collecting the soil samples from 0-15 and 15-30 cm
depths at farmers’ field in different villages spread over nine districts of the State during 2016-17. The experimental
soils were found to belong to six textural classes i.e., sand, loamy sand, sandy loam, loam, silty loam and sandy clay
loam; on the basis of mechanical analysis of the samples. The soils were analyzed for organic carbon (OC) content,
electrical conductivity, pH, saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat), sodium adsorption ratio, soil moisture
characteristics, moisture at filed capacity and permanent wilting point, aggregate size analysis and aggregate
stability index using standard methods. The pH1:2, EC1:2, OC of soils was found ranging from 6.69-8.08, 0.11-3.68
dS/m and 0.14 – 0.72%, respectively for both the soil depths. The Ksat of the soils was found significantly and
positively correlated with bulk density and negatively correlated with silt+clay content, soil OC, water stable
aggregates and mean weight diameter .Similarly, soil moisture at field capacity and permanent wilting point were
found significantly positively correlated with silt+clay content, soil organic carbon, water stable aggregates and
mean weight diameter and significantly negatively correlated with bulk density. Maximum water holding capacity
was also found significantly positively correlated with silt+clay content, soil OC, water stable aggregates and mean
weight diameter and significantly negatively correlated with bulk density. No significant correlation was found
between hydraulic properties and soluble salt concentration.